Reception room set up... PLEASE HELP!!

Knottie1443721062

I am posting this in the "etiquette" section because it something that my FI and I just can't decide on because we don't know if people will be offended or not. Our ceremony and reception is in one place at a country club. The room where the reception will be held is a little "divided" the whole thing holds 250 people and will be having about 130. Here is the thing, we don't know where to put the dance floor. If we put it in the "main room" then that will make some tables having to be put in the room that IS attached but there is a fireplace in the middle and double doors (that will be open) on each side. Please see photo- on each side of the fireplace you will see double doors where tables would have to be put. In the picture, this wedding was set up where tables were put in the other room and dance floor was in main room near the head table. If we didn't do it like this then our dance floor would be in that room behind the fire place and all tables would be in main room. My FI thinks that some people might feel like they are being put in another room while I don't think it's a huge deal because of the open doors and I kind of want our DJ close to the head table. We would also have to ask everyone to follow us into the dance floor room if we had it in the other room and then people would have to stand while we did our special dances, which is no fun for anyone. I would REALLY appreciate some help here. This is our biggest problem for the wedding and yes we do LOVE the place we are having the reception at, it is beautiful and we aren't going to change our venue so PLEASE let me know what you think with the options given. I will be checking back frequently so if you have questions please ask. Thank you!

LeiselEB

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_reception-room-set-up-please-help?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:51b1c08f-9917-416f-b0fc-c5a0c735c5e4Post:0b9f5693-f002-4959-abc0-1d7404bbdc60">Re: Reception room set up... PLEASE HELP!!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Reception room set up... PLEASE HELP!! : Wow, that is exactly what we would do with that room... some rounds and high tops and the DJ would wire speakers in the main room for dinner. That was what drew my FI to the venue in the first place because we have uplighting that were doing a lot of in the dance room. It's me that is second guessing the set up because of the fact that people have to stand. You have helped me see his take on it more clearly though so thank you.
Posted by AmberZ13[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>No problem :)

</div>

mkrupar

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_reception-room-set-up-please-help?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:51b1c08f-9917-416f-b0fc-c5a0c735c5e4Post:0b9f5693-f002-4959-abc0-1d7404bbdc60">Re: Reception room set up... PLEASE HELP!!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Reception room set up... PLEASE HELP!! : Wow, that is exactly what we would do with that room... some rounds and high tops and the DJ would wire speakers in the main room for dinner. That was what drew my FI to the venue in the first place because we have uplighting that were doing a lot of in the dance room.<strong> It's me that is second guessing the set up because of the fact that people have to stand.</strong> You have helped me see his take on it more clearly though so thank you.
Posted by AmberZ13[/QUOTE]

Stop second guessing it. Splitting your guests is rude. Your FI is right. Keep the dance floor in a separate space. I went to a wedding where they had to seat guests on an upper level of the venue, out on a sun porch, AND they had to remove the head table for dancing. Talk about inconvenient. Guests were miffed to be shuttled upstairs. They couldn't see anything, then the WP had no seats after dinner and everyone just kind of mingled around.

Standing during special dances is fine. Choose short songs. People get bored anyways watching two people sway around in circles for 4 minutes, then 5 minutes, then another 3 mintues.

Habs2Hart

Here's my two cents FWIW.

This was the set up we had.  We had everone in the restaurant for dinner.  We had a sweetheart table and a mixture of rounds and rectangles and everyone ate in the same room.  We had about 110 guests.  The DJ set up a small table with stuff for his dinner music in the back of the room by the pillar. 

Then, right adjacent to the room was the "party room" where the bar, buffet (which was on the dance floor during dinner) and dessert and then late night snack was set up.  We did our spotlight dances right before the party kicked off, so we weren't having people get up an down.  The party room opened up to the pool deck and the patio, so it had nice flow to it.  The bathrooms were also off this room, as was the entrance (it was a golf clubhouse).  The DJ set up his main equipment here.

We actually had a lot of positive comments on the set up.  the people who weren't into the party and the noise could go back to their tables in the other room and chat quietly without having to yell, and it was still bright in the other room where the lights were turned down in the party room. 

It worked well for us, and it's how the venue does all their weddings (except the really small ones) and they've had great feedback from the set up.  It's different than what is traditionally done, but people who don't want to stand for a few minutes, will sit down for the dances.  It's not a big deal. 

Beads921

Our dances will be in a separate room from our dinner. The spaces are connected by the bar and a bunch of open windows and doors. There will be some seating in that room, but not enough for everyone. It's also where we'll have our cocktails before dinner, and where we'll do our cake and late night buffet.

I actually love the set up because it allows some of the older guests (or anyone, really) who might not want to sit with the blaring music to stay back in our dinner  and enjoy themselves there. Heck, sometimes I get sick of the noise and will be quite happy for the break. 

It sounds like this would be more than doable with your venue, and probably the better option vs sticking some people in the other room effectively excluding them from the party.

Knottie1443721062

Thank you everyone for your advice, I will most likely take your advice and have the dance floor in the other room. Thank you for all of your ideas as well!